At Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, nothing is more important than the safety of the children we serve. We are committed to creating a safe, positive environment where children can learn, grow and thrive. We have zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior of any kind and back this commitment with comprehensive policies, staff training, and ongoing safety improvements.
Every staff member, board member, and volunteer who works directly with children undergoes mandatory criminal background checks upon hiring and annually thereafter. All potential team members are screened through the Florida Clearinghouse or First Advantage and the National Sex Offender Registry.
We maintain detailed policies that protect youth, including specific guidelines for:
All our staff and volunteers are mandated reporters, required by law to immediately report any safety concerns to local authorities. Additionally, we report all critical incidents to Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours.
We encourage all staff, members, and families to report any situation they feel is unsafe. Through our partnership with Praesidium, one of the nation’s leading safety experts, everyone has access to a confidential 24-hour Child Safety Hotline: 866-607-SAFE (7233) or SafeClub@Praesidiuminc.com.
Our commitment to safety includes:
In July 2020, Boys & Girls Clubs nationally voted to adopt additional mandatory safety measures, including more stringent background checks, enhanced Safety Committee requirements, and stronger communication of safety resources.
In July 2021, local Clubs voted to implement further recommendations from RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) – demonstrating our ongoing commitment to child safety.
Through Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we benefit from partnerships with leading safety organizations:
The children of the Big Bend region deserve our unwavering focus on their safety and well-being. We promise to protect every child entrusted to our care, continuously improving our practices to ensure they have a safe place to learn and grow.
